How to start art collecting by choosing a first print

What you need to know

Choose a place to look

Find a gallery or open studio with prints and someone who can explain them. Check hours, access and entry costs. Allow 45–60 minutes without a buying deadline.

Set a full-cost limit

Set a total budget and display or storage place. Measure it; image, paper and frame sizes differ. Allow for framing or protection and transport beyond the artwork price.

Bring notes and leave handling to staff

Bring a notebook or phone and ask before photographing. Let staff handle unframed sheets; keep hands, drinks and loose objects away from image surfaces.

Compare two works on paper. Your first-print decision can be to choose, ask for information, or keep looking.

Choose with your eyes

Look at each print for a few minutes. Write a specific reason you would enjoy living with it: a line, subject, colour relationship or idea. Ask staff about the work. Compare its scale with your space. Record which you prefer and why; an edition number or price cannot supply that reason.

Ask what the print is

For the print you favour, ask for its artist, title, date, process, image and paper dimensions, and which sheet is for sale. Was the image made as a print or reproduced from another work? Multiple impressions can still be original artworks; the V&A’s introduction explains the processes.

Ask whether the edition is limited, its numbered size, this sheet’s number, and whether other proofs or versions exist. What written description or publisher documentation comes with this particular sheet? Tamarind Institute’s process guide distinguishes numbered impressions and proofs. Publisher practices vary. A signature or low number alone does not establish authenticity or quality.

Check condition, cost and care

Have staff show the actual sheet rather than a sample image. Ask about damage, changes or hand finishing, and note the answer. Add the price to framing or protective housing, packing and delivery costs in the relevant currency. Ask for the written description and the seller’s return terms before deciding.

Care depends on the paper and surface. Ask staff how this particular print should be packed and displayed; a plastic sleeve is not a universal solution. Keep paper away from direct light, heat and damp, and do not tape or clean it. The Library of Congress paper-care guide explains why materials and surfaces matter.

Choose this sheet, request an answer to an open question, or keep looking. Write your reason in terms of enjoyment, condition, space and total cost. If you buy, keep the receipt and description and let staff package the print.